Engadget Logo Engadget Japanese version Try the completely wireless open earphone "ambie" that does not block your ears (Muneka Nishida)

I (finally) got a completely wireless type of earphone "ambie" that does not block my ears.

Completely wireless and open earphones are still rare, and coupled with a slightly magatama-like appearance, this model attracted considerable attention when the announcement and reservation started in June. After that, due to some delay in production, shipping was delayed for about two months from the beginning, but it arrived at the author's hand.

Let's try various things to see how easy it is to use.

Completely wireless type that does not block the ear holes and is open

The brand ambie was born in 2017. A hardware startup jointly funded by Sony and venture capital firm WiL, it has consistently made earphones with an "ear cuff structure."

The ear cuff structure is a shape that can be attached so that the ears are pinched. You don't put it in your ear canal or put it on your ear. Sound is delivered in a directional form from the body to the ear canal.

As a result, it is not very noticeable, the burden on the ears is small, and the surrounding sounds can be heard. This feature hasn't changed from the first model in 2017, but it's finally completely wireless.

After all it is the appearance that catches the eye. Anyway, it's small and has a unique shape. It looks like two round balls connected together, and it feels very different from the original model, which resembled a neck pillow for an airplane.

I also had the first model, and I liked the "open comfort". But honestly, I stopped using it right away. The reason is that the thin adapter that guides the sound to the ear was easily removed and easily lost. I think it was a consideration to make it easy to put on because it pinches my ears, but honestly it was difficult to use.

But that's not the case with this fully wireless version. I'm confused at first to pinch my ears, but I get used to it after a few times.

Easy to attach. It's like holding a small ball in front of you, pinching it above your ears, and sliding it down. When you take it, just pull it as it is.

The shape of the ears may differ from person to person, and the sound quality will change depending on where you stop, so it's a good idea to know in advance which side is right for you.

It's firmly pinched, so it won't fall even if you run or dance. There is a slight "feeling of being pinched" in the ears, but the feeling of foreign matter and the burden are not great. It's easier than the in-ear type that you put in your ear canal.

Sound quality that is "moderate" in terms of audio, but has a sense of liberation and a favorable impression

So what about the essential sound quality?

To be honest, it's not "very good".

However, that is the case when compared with the in-ear type etc. as pure audio quality, and the beauty and advantages are quite different in the first place.

The sound of ambie has a unique atmosphere because it echoes in the ears and the sound is heard. Is it an open sound? It's natural because the sound is actually "open". There isn't much bass, but the image of the sound is fairly audible. Rather than enjoying the audio straight, the impression is that the sound quality is suitable for listening like BGM. To be honest, it's pretty good.

It doesn't block the holes in my ears, so I can hear outside sounds without any problems. The number of headphones that have an "external sound capture" function with a microphone has increased, but it is still different.

Sound leakage is structurally inevitable. However, since it only sounds quiet in the first place, it is hard to hear in the surroundings unless the volume is turned up. In a very quiet room (environmental sound is 40 dB or less), the volume is 50% and you can hear it a little around, and at 70% you feel that it is not leaking. In a running train (environmental sound of 60 dB), there is no problem if it is 50%, and it takes a little courage to make it 70%.

In the first place, this product is more suitable for use in the city than to use it while worrying about sound leakage on the train. If this is the case, it will not cause any inconvenience to the people around you.

Similar to Aftershokz, it is more suitable for sports, etc.

"Bone conduction headphones" is one of the products that was a hit with Korona-ka, but it is similar to ambie in the sense that it does not put a strain on the ears and allows you to hear the surrounding sounds.

So, I compared it with the "Aftershokz OpenComm" that I use every day.

The burden on the body is smaller with Aftershokz OpenComm. However, ambie is not so unpleasant because it is just caught in my ear. It can be said that it is "almost equal" in the sense that the feeling of discomfort when wearing it is small.

Aftershokz OpenComm is better in terms of sound quality. The smallness of sound leakage is the same (naturally in principle). However, ambie has a feeling of liberation in the sound, and as an experience, it also has advantages and disadvantages.

So what about microphone quality? Aftershokz OpenComm has a nice microphone, and ambie is also equipped with a microphone and can be used for calls on smartphones.

This is an overwhelming victory for Aftershokz OpenComm. Ambie could hear the voice without any problem, but it was muffled and rough. Aftershokz OpenComm, as the name implies, emphasizes "communication," so it's not surprising that there is a difference. Aftershokz OpenComm is better than ambie if you want to "telework with everyday wear".

However, considering running, ambie is less burdensome. Aftershokz OpenComm is IP55 waterproof and ambie is IPX5. Considering sweat and dust, ambie is more suitable. There is also the advantage that it is inconspicuous to wear.

Considering that, I wonder if there are advantages and disadvantages.

Pairing has a strong habit, but it is simple, is it supposed to be a simple use "use with one smartphone"?

Finally, let's check the Bluetooth specifications.

ambie is "multi-pairing up to 4" in the specifications. You can only use one at a time, but you can pair it with four devices.

To switch devices, you need to "disconnect from the model you were using before". This is a little annoying. For example, if you want to switch between a PC and a smartphone, and a smartphone and a tablet, you will have to connect and disconnect each time. Apple and Sony products have a specification that "when the next device comes to connect, the headphone side automatically disconnects from the previous device", so it is easy to use the device properly.

Surprisingly, ambie has no "operation to enter pairing". To be precise, "If you are not connected to any device, you will automatically be in pairing mode." When pairing with a new device, delete the pairing with the previous device so that it is not connected to any device. It's simple to understand, but it's a bit quirky. Considering this, it should be considered that ambie specializes in the simple usage of "using with one smartphone".

There is also a dedicated app, but it's only used for changing button settings, and it doesn't have much functionality. There may be future updates, but it's a bit of a waste.

Including this area, "ambine's characteristic appearance but simple" is probably the goal of ambie. Basically, one smartphone is the other party to connect to. You should think that it is specialized in simple usage.

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